Coaling station



Aug. 25, 1925. 1,550,891

H. J. EcK

COALING STATION Filed Sept. 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V swam-imm. @www Hffmmlm.

Aug. 25, 1925.

1,550,891v H. J. ECK

COALING STATION Filed Sept- 25 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1 rf I1 j; K

Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. ECK, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERTS AND SCI-IAEFER COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

COALING STATION.

"" Application filed September 25, 1924. Serial No. 739,762.

T0 all w/wm t may concern.:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. Een, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coaling Stations, of which the :following is a specification.

This invention relates to a coaling station and particularly to a coaling station intended for use in connection with locomotives where a .supply of coal is sorted and from which coal is supplied to locomotives as needed. It has for one object to provide in connection with such a station means for filling the storage bin wherein the hoisting motive power is located above the ground and controlled from below so that the operator need not go above the ground and so that no operating room need be provided. It has for another object to provide in connection with such a coaling station means whereby coal is hoisted to the bin by a reversible drag bucket, which descends empty on one side of the bin, is dragged through a pile of coal and filled, ascends full and is dumped, and then moves in the reverse direction, repeating the cycle of operation in that direction. Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross section of a coaling station;

Figure 2 is a transverse section at line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing the bucket;

Figure 4l is an end view looking at the swinging bottom of the bucket in the direction of the arrow of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic showing of the timing and reversing mechanism for the hoist.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout.

A is a railroad track adapted to support a car A1 above a receiving bin A2. The coal from the car is discharged into this bin. A3 is a partition within the bin and extending part way up from the bottom. A4 A4 are doors through the bottom of the bin. They communicate with a loading tunnel A5.

B is a storage bin preferably provided with a V-shaped bottom B1 and supported on any suitable framework B2. This will not be further described as its details form no part of the present invention.

Leading from the storage bin B are discharge chutes C of which there may be any suitable number. By means of these chutes coal is discharged into the tenders of locomotives or into other receptacles.

D is a framework above the storage bin B. It may carry a roof D1. It also carries the hoisting mechanism which in the form illustrated herewith consists of a motor E which through gearing El drives a winding drum E2, about which one or more endless hoisting cables E3 are wound.

The hoist mechanism is adapted to be operated alternatively in opposite directions. In order to control the operation of the hoist I provide timing and reversing connections diagrammatically shown in Figure 5, wherein X is a shaft having thereon an arm X1 adapted during its revolution, and during the upward excursion of the hoist to make the electric connection for the other clutch X12 adapted to drive the main shaft in the opposite direction. Intermediate these two positive clutch connections are intervals in which both clutches are electrically disconnected. Segment XZ diagrammatically i1- lustrates the positive Connection during the upward excursion and segment X3 the positive connection during the downward excursion. Segments X4 and Xi illustrate the pause at the top and bottom respectively of the hoist excursion, the length of the pause being varied by varying the arc of said segments. The electric brake connection through the line X, the brake diagrammaticaily illustrated at X7 and the return line Xs is diagrammatically shown as being made during these periods of pause. This showing is purely diagrammatic and is intended merely to illustrate a type of electric connection which may be employed. In practice any automatic control, whether electric or mechanical may be used.

F is an inner track member. In the form here shown there are two such members each extending from the storage bin down along one side thereof to the filling bin; and thence along the other side of the storage bin to the top. Situated adjacent the bottom of the main frame work and preferably within the bin A2 are two sheaves F2 F2. Situated at the top of the storage bin B1 are two other sheaves F3 F2. About these Asheaves the cable E3 passes and in them it is supported.

G G are outer track members. They extend downward from top to bottom, parallel to the straight portion of the inner track members F.

H H are the sides of' a bucket. They are join-ed to a. curved bottom H1. H2 H2 are plates forming together the swinging bottom of the bucket. They are preferably formed about a bar H3 which is provided with bearings H1 adjacent the pointed ends of the sides H. Mounted within the bucket and adjacent either end of the curved portion H1 is a pair of stops 1. These stops may be as shown in the drawings in the form of angles.

Pivoted to each side of the bucket at J is a roller link formed of two parts J1 J1, each carrying on its outer end a hook bar J2 J2. Each of these is-perforated as at J3 for attachment to an end of the hoisting cable E3. At the ends of each of the hook bars J 2 is mounted a flanged roller J 1.

K K are stops on the outside of the bucket. There are two on each side of the bucket for limiting the relative movement ot the bucket and the roller links J1. Thus as shown in Figure 3 the bucket cannot tilt farther to the left than the position which it occupies.

Although I have shown an operative device, still it will be obvious that many changes might be made in size, shape and arrangement of parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention; and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic; and in particular the details of the bucket may be greatly varied. The rollers on the bucketV might be mounted directly thereon, instead of being carried on arms as in the construction shown.

The use and operation ot my invention are as follows:

Coal or other material to be handled is dumped into the receiving bin. This then runs down from the bin through the doors into the lling tunnel. The driving mechanism is then set in operation and the cable moves so as to move the bucket back and downward in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 1. As the empty bucket thus moves down the swinging bottom plate is in the position shown, in dotted lines at 'X in that figure, that is, it is at the bottom of the bucket. Vhen the bucket contacts the coal in the filling tunnel the swinging bottom of the bucket yields and moves backward clear across the bucket and rests on the anges at the other side. As the bucket continues its movement through the coal, coal is forced into it and it is filled. The

` bottom plate has swung clear over from its original position occupied when it descended with the empty bucket, and the bucket is filled. The motion of the cable then continues in the same directionV until the bucket reaches the top dotted line position indicated at Y. The contents are then discharged over the pivoted end of the bottom plate.

The hoisting mechanism is associated with an automatic reverse switch. The details of this switch form no part of the present invention and it therefore is not described in detail; but the switch is of such nature 'that it causes the driving mechanism to move the cable a given distance in one direction and then automatically it halts or brakes the driving mechanism, and then, after a predetermined p'ause, reverses to move it a given distance in the reverse direction. This is kept up indefinitely.

`When now the bucket has reached the p0- sition indicated at Y in Figure 1 and has discharged its contents over the pivoted end of the floor plate, the movement of the cable is reversed, and thus, of course, the movement of the bucket is reversed. The bucket descends again into the filling tunnel, contacting the coal whereby the floor plate is swung back and the bucket filled. The bucket then moves upward to the position shown in dotted lines at Z, and so the contents is again dumped over the pivoted end of the floor plate. The movement of the cable is reversed and the bucket again descends into the filling tunnel; and this cycle of operation, alternately moving the empty bucket into the tunnel and thereby swinging the bottom of the bucket, filling the bucket, raising and dumping it is repeated as long as power is applied.

As the bucket ascends or descends in the position shown in dotted lines at X in Figure l, the center of gravity is so related to the center of the support that the bucket does not tip but remains in the upright position. As it moves laterally upon the inclined portion of the track over the storage bin, the center of gravity with relation to the point of support shifts so that the bucket comes into 'the tipping position, the bucket being automatically rotated on the rotating pin at J and moves to the discharging position indicated in dotted lines at Y and Z.

I claim:

l. In a material handling installation, a track, a receiving hopper beneath said track, a material receiving passage passing transversely beneath said track and open at either side thereof, a storage bin positioned above said track, a hoist bucket and means for drawing it through said receiving passage alternately in opposite directions, and means for discharging the load of said bucket into said storage bin.

2. In a material handling installation, a track, a receiving hopper beneath said track,

lili) arista aaa a material receiving passage passing transversely beneath said track and open at either side thereof, a storage bin positioned above said track, a hoist bucket and means for drawing it through said receiving passage alternately in opposite directions, and means for discharging the load of said bucket into said storage bin, and means for controlling the feed of material from said hopper into said passage.

3. In a material handling installation. a track, a material receiving passage extending transversely beneath said track and o-pen at either side thereof, a storage bin positioned above said track, a hoist bucket and means for drawing it through said passage alternately in opposite directions, and

`means for discharging its load into said storage bin.

l. In a material handling installation a track, a material receiving passage extending transversely beneath said track and open at either side thereof, a storage bin positioned above said track, a hoist bucket and means for drawing it through said passage alternately in opposite directions, and means for discharging its load into said storage bin alternately at opposite sides of the said bin.

5. In a material handling installation a track, a material receiving passage extending transversely beneath said track and open at either side thereof, a storage bin positioned above said track, a hoist bucket and means fo-r drawing i-t through said passage alternately in opposite directions, and means for discharging its load into said storage bin, and means for' reversing the effective facing of the mouth of the bucket before each excursion of the bucket through the passage.

6. In a material handling installation, a material receiving passage, a reversible hoist bucket, and means for drawing the bucket in either direction thro-ugh said passage, and means for controlling the delivery of material into said passage.

7. In a material handling installation, a material receiving passage, a reversible hoist bucket, and means for drawing the bucket in either direction through said passage, and means for controlling the delivery of material into said passage, comprising a material receiving hopper, a passageway between said hopper and said passage, and a controllable gateway therefor.

8. In a material handling installa-tion, a track, a hopper positioned beneath said track, a storage bin positioned above said track, a hoist bucket, and means for drawing said bucket through said hopper alternately in opposite directions.

9. In a material handling installation, a receiving hopper and a storage bin, a hoist bucket and means for drawing said bucket through said hopper alternately in opposite directions.

10. In a` material handling installation, a receiving hopper and a storage bin, a hoist bucket and means for drawing said bucket through said hopper alternately in opposite directions, and means for tilting said bucket to discharge its contents into said storage bin after each excursion through said hopper.

l1. In a material handling installation a material receiving passage and means for delivering material thereto, a hoist bucket, and means for drawing said bucket through said passage alternately in opposite directions.

12. In a material handling installation a material receiving passage, a hoist bucket, and means for drawing said bucket through said passage alternately in opposite directions, and means for controlling the delivery of material into said passage.

13. In a material handling installation, a track, a scoop passage transversely underlying said track and having an opening at each side thereof, means for delivering material into said passage, a storage bin positioned above said track, a scoop and means for drawing said scoop thro-ugh said p-assage alternately in opposite directions, and

for dumping the contents thereof alternately at opposite sides of said bin.

14. In a hoisting mechanism, a cable circuit, a reversible bucket interposed in said cable circuit, a plurality of bails pivoted to said bucket and secured in the cable circuit and a pivoted bottom plate associated with said bucket.

15. In a hoisting mechanism, a cable circuit, a reversible bucket interposed in said cable circuit, a plurality of bails pivoted to said bucket and secured in the cable circuit and a pivoted bottom plate associated with said bucket, and means for limiting the eX- cursion lof said plate and for supporting it at the opposite limits of its excursion.

16. The combination with a. reversible bucket having a plurality of mouths, of a pivoted bottom` plate, and means for limiting the excursion of said plate, and for supporting it at the limit of its excursion, said means being positioned adjacent and within said mouths.

17. The combination with a reversible hoist bucket having a plurality of mouths, of a swinging bottom plate therefor, said bucket being closed on one side by an arcuate member substantially concentric .with the path of motion of a free edge of said bottom plate.

18. The combination with a reversible hoist bucket having a plurality of mouths, of a swinging bottom plate therefor, said bucket being closed on one side by an arcuate member substantially concentric with the path of motion of a free edge of said bottom plate, supporting means adapted to limit the movement of said bottom plate, and to support it at either limit of its excursion.

19. The combination with a reversible bucket having a plurality of mouths, ot a pivoted bottom plate adapted to occupy a plurality of operative positions and to be moved from one operative position to another by the pressure ot material entering the bucket as the bucket is lilled.

20. A reversible bucket having a plurality of mouths, said bucket comprising two side members joined by a substantially arcuate member, and a bottom plate pivoted between said two side members, its edge being adapted to swing about an arc substantially concentric with the arc of said arcuate member.

2l. A reversible hoist bucket comprising a bucket body having a plurality of mouths, and a plurality of bails concentrically pivoted to said bucket.

22, A reversible hoist bucket comprising a bucket body having a plurality of mouths, and a plurality of bails pivoted to said bucket, and guiding members mounted at the extremities of said bails.

28. The combination with a reversible hoist bucket of a plurality of bails concentrically pivoted to said bucket, and guiding members mounted at the extremities of said bails.

2st- The combination with a reversible hoist bucket, and tracks along which it is adapted to run, of a plurality of bails pivoted to said bucket and track engaging members mounted at the extremities of said bails.

25. The combination with a reversible hoist bucket, and tracks along which it is adapted to run, of a plurality of bails pivoted to said bucket and track engaging members mounted at the extremities of said bails, and a pivoted bottom plate for said bucket and means for limiting the excursion of said plate and for supporting it at the limits of its excursion.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 19th day of September 1924.

HENRY J. ECK. 

